MRI of sciatica

[richardt]

I am going through the same strife aswell [see my thread 'all ready but can't'].

After pills / physio / mri / specialist / chiro i have moved on and have now had my 2nd caudal epidural which sadly hasnt really worked [neither did the first really]. Apparently my leg raise angle is a shade better but the pain / pins and needles / and hunched walking are not much different. The thing that really kills me is the pain at night, turning over is a nightmare, mainly to do with the muscles I am told. I have now started taking amitriptiline to try and help the pain [no beer at christmas....dr's orders!], and have booked myself in for a sports massage / physio to try and help the muscles.

I am desparate to get out on my new road bike, my head says yes but my body says no, I will maybe give it a go after christmas.

Good luck to all fellow sufferers!

 

[ASC1951]

My sciatica was pretty much cured - or maybe just delayed - by some spinal twist exercises prescribed by my physio. It was fairly mild so far i.e. discomfort rather than pain.

 

[Jonathan M]

Actually there aren't that many: GE, Siemens, Toshiba and Philips are just about the only clical scanner manufacturers. However, there are rumblings that things are about to happen in China that might challenge that. Expect Made in China scanners sometime soon....

Experience tells me that there are differences in patient comfort though, got scanned several times last summer in a Siemens, and while there was some noise, it wasn't bad. Most recent scan in December was a GE and it was like a bag of bolts, and that was despite ear plugs that I hadn't worn in the Siemens!! Lots more scans to come in the next couple of months too, so maybe I'll get a ride in most manufactuers machines yet

 

[Jonathan M]

Actually there aren't that many: GE, Siemens, Toshiba and Philips are just about the only clical scanner manufacturers. However, there are rumblings that things are about to happen in China that might challenge that. Expect Made in China scanners sometime soon....

Experience tells me that there are differences in patient comfort though, got scanned several times last summer in a Siemens, and while there was some noise, it wasn't bad. Most recent scan in December was a GE and it was like a bag of bolts, and that was despite ear plugs that I hadn't worn in the Siemens!! Lots more scans to come in the next couple of months too, so maybe I'll get a ride in most manufactuers machines yet

 

[ridelikeapro]

I've had this for a couple of years.
Spent a fortune of physios, chiro's etc. Did have a cure for very short periods after a couple of chiropractic treatments - but then came right back very quickly. It's trapped nerves effecting the blood supply and power to one leg, so it comes on when climbing and I usually go out of the "back door" when the road goes up.
Had some injections - but I still seem to be back to square one. Last hospital consultant said it was athritis - I'm not convinced. I wish you luck in your treatments guys, there don't seem to be any easy remedies for this. I'm keeping my eye one this post to see if anyone else has "the answer"!

 

[kyuss]

I'm keeping my eye one this post to see if anyone else has "the answer"!

Me too. I've suffered with it for years. Last bad bout was about 2 years ago and it took 2 years of excrutiating pain and physio before the doc even bothered to send me for an x-ray (which found nothing). MRI scan wasn't an option apparently.

Thankfully I woke up one day and the pain was gone. Until 2 months ago when it came back with a vengence. The last 3 weeks I've been struggling to even walk. Hopefully my new doctor will take it a bit more seriously.

 

[andytheflyer]

To all those who have a problem with discs trapping the spinal cord, like the OP, kick and scream and make a nuisance of yourself until you get a spinal decompression......

I had this over a 5 year period until in mid 2007 (numbness, pins and needles, nerve pains, falling over in the street because I lost the feeling in my legs, all the horror stories) I had to be flown home from an overseas job because I could no longer function. Went straight to A&E with MRI scans I'd bought myself whilst abroad. Duty doc got me an appointment with a surgeon that week, saw him, he looked at the scans and said to come back in a month and he'd decide. He did, and 4 months later I had the op.

Was in hospital 2 days, and after hardly being able to walk and being on horrendous painkillers (waking up in the night screaming at the monster spider crawling down the bedroom wall for example) I walked 2 miles 2 days after the op. Result.

Was off work a month and then went back abroad. Never even been a twinge since, nothing at all, totally satisfied. I understand the op is no longer 'risky' and is very routine.

If anyone is offered a decompression, go for it. Could not recommend it highly enough.

PM me if you need to discuss.

 

[Riverman]

Sorry to hear about this.
What meds have they put you on btw? If you don't mind me asking.